People of all walks of life on Saturday converged at the Blue Crest College to participate in the second edition of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) organised by the High Commission of India, Accra.
The dignitaries including the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Pavelyn Tendai Musaka, and the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dawonuba Baeka, members of the Indian community, among others who attended the event were treated to good yoga performances for than three hours.
Delivering the welcome his address, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Jeeva Sagart stressed on the importance of Yoga as a holistic system that could not only bring health and happiness at the individual level but also harmony and peace in the world, transcending national boundaries and cultural differences.
He added: “Yoga has the capacity in strengthening peace and harmony in the world. Yoga also promotes people to people relationship”.
Mr Sagart therefore pledged to add a new energetic dimension to the already excellent bilateral relations between India and Ghana through the practice of Yoga, stressing: “We believe Yoga can be added to our Ghana and India bilateral relationship”.
He also used the occasion to praise Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India and other parts of the developing world.
According to him, the SMEs sector is very important to the growth and development of most developing countries including India.
For instance, Mr Sagart said during the period of the 2008 global economic crisis, India was isolated from it because of its vibrant SMEs sector.
Even India was growing during the global economic crisis. So, we were the factor which led to the easing of the crisis, the India diplomat maintained.
In a message, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dawonuba Baeka commended the people and government of India for supporting the growth and development of Ghana.
He urged Ghanaians to emulate the self-belief demonstrated by Indians as a developing nation and to take advantage of the benefits of Yoga.
Delivering a special message, the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Pavelyn Tendai Musaka said: “The health benefits of Yoga are numerous but stress reduction is one.”
She suggested that diplomats posting to any part of the world should attend Yoga classes to improve their stress levels.
A leading Ghanaian actresses and Africa’s superstar, Miss Martha Ankomah who took part in the event congratulated the participants and the Indian High Commission for the honour.
She said: “Given our hectic lifestyle and stress-filled days, it is important that we should learn and adopt some regimen like Yoga practices into our daily lives to overcome the pressures and tensions we are constantly subjected to”.
Miss Ankomah added: “The advantage of Yoga is that it does not introduce any external elements into the body-so it is clean and safe. It is of course, a more nature-friendly way to make our lives happier and healthier”.
Yoga practitioners representing different nationalities performed yoga exercises guided by experts and in synchronization with a video recording of select Yoga exercises created by Indians back home.
African Eye Report
